Jump to content

Goust: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
add references; Pont d'Enfer
Line 8: Line 8:


== Geography ==
== Geography ==
Goust is located on the territory of the [[Communes of France|commune]] of [[Laruns]]. It occupies one square mile on a plateau at the southern (upper) end of the [[Ossau Valley]] in the Western [[Pyrenees]], across the [[Gave d'Ossau]] from [[Eaux Chaudes]]. At an [[elevation]] of 995 m/3264 ft, it is accessible only by a narrow mountain footpath. The nearest town is Laruns in the valley below.
Goust is located on the territory of the [[Communes of France|commune]] of [[Laruns]]. It occupies one square mile on a plateau at the southern (upper) end of the [[Ossau Valley]] in the Western [[Pyrenees]], across the [[Gave d'Ossau]] from [[Eaux-Chaudes]]. At an [[elevation]] of 995 m/3264 ft, it is accessible only by a narrow mountain footpath across the Pont d'Enfer ("Bridge of Hell"). The nearest town is Laruns in the valley below.


The community is made up of 10-12 households, with a population fluctuating between 50 and 150 residents. All baptisms, weddings, and burials are performed at the Catholic church in Laruns. Due to its isolated situation, the inhabitants of Goust have evolved a curious funeral custom: the deceased is placed in a coffin and sent down the mountainside via a specially-constructed [[chute]], to be collected at the bottom for burial in the Laruns cemetery.
The community is made up of 10-12 households, with a population fluctuating between 50 and 150 residents. All baptisms, weddings, and burials are performed at the Catholic church in Laruns. Due to its isolated situation, the inhabitants of Goust have evolved a curious funeral custom: the deceased is placed in a coffin and sent down the mountainside via a specially-constructed [[chute]], to be collected at the bottom for burial in the Laruns cemetery.


== History ==
== History ==
Although self-governing for centuries, Goust's independence was recognized by France and Spain only in [[1648]]. The government consisted of a Council of Ancients composed of 3-12 citizens, who elected a President for a term of five years.<ref>"Smallest Republic in the World," ''Dallas Morning News'', August 15, 1896, p 8</ref><ref>"Pinhead Republics," ''Boise Sentinel'', 1894</ref>
Although self-governing for centuries, Goust's independence was recognized by France and Spain only in [[1648]]. The government consisted of a Council of Ancients composed of 3-12 citizens, who elected a President for a term of five years.<ref>"Smallest Republic in the World," ''Dallas Morning News'', August 15, 1896, p 8</ref><ref>"Pinhead Republics," ''Idaho Daily Statesman'', May 9, 1894, p 5</ref>


In 1896 the president proclaimed a ban on publication of any newspaper without executive authorization, which led to an uprising of the citizens.<ref>"Fighting for Journalism," ''Boston Daily Globe'', July 14, 1896, p 8</ref>
In 1896 the president proclaimed a ban on publication of any newspaper without executive authorization, which led to an uprising of the citizens.<ref>"Fighting for Journalism," ''Boston Daily Globe'', July 14, 1896, p 8</ref>
Line 23: Line 23:


*Dix, Edwin Asa (1890), ''A Midsummer Drive through the Pyrenees'', ch 10
*Dix, Edwin Asa (1890), ''A Midsummer Drive through the Pyrenees'', ch 10
*"Hameau de Goust, dans les Pyrénées," ''Nouvelles Annales des Voyages'', vol 37 (1828), pp 109-113
*Moreau, Adolphe (1844), ''Itinéraire de Pau aux Eaux-Bonnes et aux Eaux-Chaudes''
*Moreau, Adolphe (1844), ''Itinéraire de Pau aux Eaux-Bonnes et aux Eaux-Chaudes''
*Perret, Paul (1882), ''Les Pyrénées françaises: Le Pays Basque et la Basse-Navarre'', pp 390-391
*Robb, Graham (2007), ''The Discovery of France,'' pp 19-21
*"An Unknown Republic," ''Chambers's Edinburgh Journal'', vol 10, no 244 (Sep 2, 1848), pp 165-166
*"An Unknown Republic," ''Chambers's Edinburgh Journal'', vol 10, no 244 (Sep 2, 1848), pp 165-166
*Vivien de Saint-Martin, Louis (1875 ff), ''Nouvelle Dictionnaire de Géographie Universelle'', vol 2, p 511
*Vivien de Saint-Martin, Louis (1875 ff), ''Nouvelle Dictionnaire de Géographie Universelle'', vol 2, p 511

Revision as of 05:48, 1 April 2008

Artist's rendition of Goust and its ruined "City of the Hills" (1899)

Goust is a hamlet in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France. For centuries it was governed as an independent republic, and was never formally annexed by France. Noted for its centenarians, one pensioner was reported to have reached the age of 163.[1]

Geography

Goust is located on the territory of the commune of Laruns. It occupies one square mile on a plateau at the southern (upper) end of the Ossau Valley in the Western Pyrenees, across the Gave d'Ossau from Eaux-Chaudes. At an elevation of 995 m/3264 ft, it is accessible only by a narrow mountain footpath across the Pont d'Enfer ("Bridge of Hell"). The nearest town is Laruns in the valley below.

The community is made up of 10-12 households, with a population fluctuating between 50 and 150 residents. All baptisms, weddings, and burials are performed at the Catholic church in Laruns. Due to its isolated situation, the inhabitants of Goust have evolved a curious funeral custom: the deceased is placed in a coffin and sent down the mountainside via a specially-constructed chute, to be collected at the bottom for burial in the Laruns cemetery.

History

Although self-governing for centuries, Goust's independence was recognized by France and Spain only in 1648. The government consisted of a Council of Ancients composed of 3-12 citizens, who elected a President for a term of five years.[2][3]

In 1896 the president proclaimed a ban on publication of any newspaper without executive authorization, which led to an uprising of the citizens.[4]

Although never formally annexed, Goust has not recently asserted its claim to independence, so is generally considered a part of France.

References

  1. ^ Cayet, Pierre Victor Palma (1605), Chronologie septenaire de l'histoire de la paix entre les Roys de France et d'Espagne
  2. ^ "Smallest Republic in the World," Dallas Morning News, August 15, 1896, p 8
  3. ^ "Pinhead Republics," Idaho Daily Statesman, May 9, 1894, p 5
  4. ^ "Fighting for Journalism," Boston Daily Globe, July 14, 1896, p 8
  • Dix, Edwin Asa (1890), A Midsummer Drive through the Pyrenees, ch 10
  • "Hameau de Goust, dans les Pyrénées," Nouvelles Annales des Voyages, vol 37 (1828), pp 109-113
  • Moreau, Adolphe (1844), Itinéraire de Pau aux Eaux-Bonnes et aux Eaux-Chaudes
  • Perret, Paul (1882), Les Pyrénées françaises: Le Pays Basque et la Basse-Navarre, pp 390-391
  • Robb, Graham (2007), The Discovery of France, pp 19-21
  • "An Unknown Republic," Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, vol 10, no 244 (Sep 2, 1848), pp 165-166
  • Vivien de Saint-Martin, Louis (1875 ff), Nouvelle Dictionnaire de Géographie Universelle, vol 2, p 511

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goust&oldid=202482188"